2015

2016

Library 101: No Shave November

The month of November has become increasingly known as No-Shave November, or Movember. Perhaps you thought you were just joining in on a catchy, play on alliteration, trend to keep warmer or save yourself 10 minutes, but believe it or not No-Shave November has become attached to raising awareness for a very important cause! Kissing razors goodbye, men (and even women) take the month off from shaving to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. So how does not shaving help cancer research and education? According to no-shave.org the concept “of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing hair, which many cancer patients lose;” the money that normally would be spent on shaving and grooming expenses should be donated to programs to support cancer prevention, research and education.

Where did this all start? In 2003, Movember was just an idea between a small group of men in Australia who wanted to increase the popularity of the mustache. The following year they teamed up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to donate the funds they raised. The Movember Foundation website (movember.com) states the US didn’t begin participating in the mustache growing festivities until 2007. Then in 2009 No-Shave November launched a Facebook page to promote going beyond the strict mustache ideals of Movember, encouraging men and women to forgo shaving and grooming their bodies in awareness of cancer research; in 2013 they officially teamed up with the American Cancer Society.

According to the American Cancer Society website No-Shave November has accrued donations totaling $1,400,000 for their mission since 2013. While forgoing shaving does raise awareness and funds for the cause, the American Cancer Society lists other ways to take action that may make a difference in your life or others’ around you. Besides adopting healthy lifestyle choices like exercise and eating healthy, they encourage everyone to open the lines of communication and knowledge by talking to health care professionals about screening as well as signs and symptoms of Cancer.

In the true spirit of the month, Kelly Library wants to celebrate furry faces and legs and raise awareness by sharing some of the items on our shelves that cover the topic of cancer: